My '86 has been put away for the winter and I have started in a few times since November just to charge the battery and put fresh gas through the lines, and burn off condensation in the system. Today was a tropical 45F degrees so I cranked it up just to hear it run and exercise the motor a bit. The engine and wiring is 100% stock. Well the throttle wouldn't kick down after warm-up so I noticed the choke was still closed. Hmmm. I put a multi-tester on the grey wire lead and it was dead. No voltage, and the choke worked fine last fall. I checked the dedicated fuse (#2 in the panel) and it was in good shape. I thought that the choke was supposed to be live at all times with ignition on? Or is this an ECM managed thing?

The choke has power when the engine is ON and it has oil pressure. So, power to the choke ONLY when the engine is running. Oil pressure switch to the left of the dist is used for this chore.

Buy some 2+2 carb cleaner and clean the choke linkage, plate/shaft. Check that the choke pulloff is working. Remove the vac line to it when the engine is running, the pulloff diaphragm will move out, reattach hose you will see the pulloff pull in. Bob

Thanks Leo and Bob, this is much appreciated.So there is an oil pressure switch involved. Last fall I disassembled the carb, completely cleaned it and all the linkage, new gaskets, TPS, accelerator pump, etc. It worked great after a couple minor adustments to idle speed, mixture and such. The electric choke worked well, as I was watching the opening angle throughout the warm up period. But the car has only been started twice since about Thanksgiving, and neither time did it get exercised - it is in a portable tarp garage surrounded by snow. And still is. I don't have much light or maneuverability inside the tarp shelter so I can't do any extensive troubleshooting yet. I do have a full shop manual in the trunk that i will open up and see the wire diagram coming from the choke. You guys have helped me narrow it down. Just hoping for warm weather to melt all the snow and ice so I can bring it out in the open again and play with cars. I miss that a lot by the time March comes around.I'll let you know on this thread when I figure it out. Might take a few more weeks....Thanks again,Tom